Is there an effect of anthropometric data,environmental parameters and temporal trend on prevalence? Worldwide systematic review and meta-analysis of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses

Abstract

Background

Nurses suffer from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).

Objective

The aim was to assess the prevalence of WMSDs among nurses and study the effect of anthropometric and environmental parameters on overall and nine body parts prevalence.

Methods

A worldwide systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Mendeley, Science.gov and Google Scholar, were scanned for relevant articles. The selection process, quality assessment and extraction of data were carried out independently by two reviewers. Cochran's Q test and the I² statistic were used for heterogeneity analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the effect of nurses’ age, experience, body mass index (BMI), as well as the year of publication and the nurse-to-bed ratio of each country on WMSD prevalence.

Results

Ninety studies were included, for a total of 45,985 nurses. Due to the high heterogeneity, random-effects model was selected to assess the WMSD prevalence. The main results obtained were: the overall prevalence was 81.1%; lower back and neck were the two areas most affected; an increase in the nurse-to-bed ratio led to a decrease in the neck and shoulder prevalence; an increase in age, experience and BMI resulted in an increase in neck and lower back prevalence; overall prevalence and prevalence by body area have increased in recent years.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the need for further development of ergonomic programs and organizational work strategies adapted to nurses’ profiles to improve their well-being and safety at work.